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＞ＴＯＰ ＞ＵＷＰ ≫ ２００５春NEWS JOURNAL
２００５春NEWS JOURNAL
Vol. 2, No. 1, March 11, 2005
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Click here for student journals
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Follow the Tour
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The WorldSmart Crew Outside the Capitol Building in Denver, Colorado, USA
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Northglenn, Colorado, USA
Jan. 29 - Feb. 20, 2005
Our Unique Group
By Rebecca Chen, China
Forty-seven participants from 21 countries plus 14 road staff is our unique group! We are all part of the February 2005 WorldSmart Leadership program crew. If traveling around 3 continents and 17 cities is exciting, traveling with our unique group for 19 weeks is the most attractive thing to me! |
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To remember everyone's name and country is the first thing I shall do. Thanks for the name tag, it makes much easier for us. However, I still found it was difficult to pronounce names, especially in different languages. I still remember I called Jens by /jens/ when I met him the first time. He smiled and told me, 'I'm /yens/. It's German!'
During the first two orientation weeks in Northglenn, Colorado, USA., many activities were designed to make us know each other better. The discussions about the stereotypes of each country was my favourite. We were asked to write down the stereotype we had of each country on every country's paper. Then everyone discussed the stereotype about other people they wrote on his country and made a presentation about the result. Though I am a university student, I know fairly little about other countries. While this time, I learned lots from people's presentations. Now I know 'Cyprus is an island country in Europe,' ' Switzerland is famous for its chocolate but not Sweden,' and 'Germans don't think they will easily forget the war,' among other things.
We are from different countries with different cultural backgrounds, so internal learning becomes a good way to better understand the world. I am so excited to be with such an international group.
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Denver and Northglenn, Colorado, USA welcomes WorldSmart Crew members
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Follow the Tour
North America
Northglenn, Colorado, USA
Jan. 29 - Feb. 20
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Feb 21 - Feb. 27
Waterville, Maine, USA
Feb. 28 - March 6
New Britain, Connecticut, USA March 7 - March 13
Scarborough, Maine, USA
March 14 - March 20
Excited WorldSmart Participants
Arrive in Denver and Northglenn,
Colorado, USA from 21 Countries
Welcoming 47 students to Colorado and the WorldSmart™ Leadership Program, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Hoag called WorldSmart 'life-changing, and the best global education program we've seen anywhere!'
Students spent three weeks in orientation at various sites in Colorado, 'graduating' when they boarded airplanes to Boston, Massachusetts on Feb. 20 to begin their 19-week leadership learning tour in three regions of the world and 17 cities.
'We're going around the world with this amazing group of people,' said WorldSmart participant John Nguyen from Australia. 'You make friends for life. No program out there does this. I could have traveled as a tourist but I would just be taking pretty pictures and going to places everyone goes to. I would never get to know the people of the community or make a difference. Already I've seen and done a lot of things I would never otherwise see or do.'
The current crew of WorldSmart participants come from all types of background from 21 countries including China, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Ireland, Cyprus, Sweden, Nigeria, Brazil, The Netherlands, Mexico, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Slovania, Lithuania, Austrailia, Turkey, Kenya and the United States.
Students travel with 14 staff members from around the world and have the opportunity to earn college credit and complement their university education.
In Denver and Northglenn, students worked with 900 students at a predominantly Hispanic, low-income middle school, Niver Middle School.
'We taught them about the importance of diversity and that finding similarities and differences about each other is good and to actually capitalize on them, said Farrah Payne from California, U.S.
In addition, WorldSmart students attended orientation classes in leadership and communication, attended a basketball game and participated in their first Community Impact Day at 'The Spot,' which is a drop-in nighttime youth center in Denver run that serves runaway and homeless youth.
After a parting celebration in Northglenn, the young people will travel to Boston, Massachusetts; Waterville, Maine; New Britain, Connecticut; and Scarborough, Maine, USA. From there, they will travel and learn in six locations in Japan, as well as Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, finishing their unique educational experience June 12.
Northglenn, Colorado
Northglenn is located nine miles north of Denver, Colorado, and has been named 'The most perfectly planned community in America.' The well-balanced community includes acres of open space for park and recreation development along with residential, industrial, educational and commercial areas. From the first residential development in 1959, Northglenn has grown to a city of more than 33,000 and encompasses 7.5 square miles of land.
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WorldSmart Crew Members enjoy a NBA Game, Denver Nuggets vs.
Utah Jazz, in Denver, Colorado, USA
Crew members and Their host families Enjoy the NBA Game at
McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado, USA
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Shootin' Some Hoops
WorldSmart Crew Goes to NBA Game
By Andriana Masquite,
Brazil
On our first two weeks in the WorldSmart program,
the participants were eager to participate in typical American experiences; for
many of us, it was our first time in the United States. But where do you take
people from 21 countries to show them a little bit of the U.S.? To an NBA
(National Basketball Association) game, of course! So on Tuesday, February 8,
the WorldSmart crew went to the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado, to watch
the Denver Nuggets basketball team play the Utah Jazz.
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States. The NBA
players are known worldwide, and some of the best ones were in the game we saw:
Carmelo Anthony, Earl Boykins and Nene Hilario, one of our best Brazilian
players. People were excited to see the game as well as the show that takes
place at such events-there are dancers, cheerleaders, mascots, motorcycles,
lights, cameras, and lots of action!
"There is so much entertainment that it is hard to actually watch the game!"
exclaimed Els Kolster, from The Netherlands.
Besides the usual NBA shows, the WorldSmart crew members were having no
problems entertaining themselves and the people around them! Even though we were
not really close to the court, we made sure everyone knew that WorldSmart was
out and about. Go Nuggets!!
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"The Spot" serves Runaway and Homeless youth
A guest at "The Spot" talks about Gang violence in the
city
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Community Impact Day
WorldSmart Crew Visits
"The Spot" Youth Center
By Crystal Sanderson, Canada
The second
week in Denver, we went out on our first community impact project. We went to
"The Spot," which is a drop-in nighttime youth center in Denver run by a
not-for-profit organization called The Urban Peak. The Spot serves runaway and
homeless youth. Beyond just a gathering place, The Spot gives youth an
opportunity for job training and placement; high school preparation and
graduation, including an equivalency diploma; entrepreneurial loans and intranet
access.
There were two speakers from The Spot who informed us about the different
gangs in and around Denver and the homeless problems among youth. Shortly after,
we had a youth panel where a handful of youth from the centre spoke of their
experiences with "The Spot' and how it has changed their lives. It was an
eye-opening experience to hear more about the rough lives that some of these
kids have lived and all that they have had to overcome.
We divided ourselves into three groups so that we could attend three
stations. In the Origami stations some of our students taught others how to make
paper cranes, which we will take to Japan for the Peace Project in one of our
cities. At another station there was music where people sang and played
instruments. Downstairs, in the third station, one of the youth of the panel
taught many of us how to break dance.
This community impact project was our first look into the many communities we
will be visiting and gave us a good start to our trip.
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Community Impact Days
Up with People Making a Difference
At Niver Creek Middle School
In
Northglenn, Colorado, USA
By Greg
McDonald
Counselor, Niver Creek
Middle School
"Hey that's Tony from Canada! I know him; he came to
my class" "There's the girl from Kenya!" "Wow, that was cool!" "I want to visit
Europe; they're cool people!"
There was excitement in the air even weeks after the Up With People
Worldsmart group spent a week with Niver Creek Middle School in Northglenn,
Colorado, talking to the sixth, seventh and eighth grade students about
labeling, name calling and bullying. What an amazing week this was with 62
Worldsmart students and staff setting up shop in our library, attending classes
and hearing speakers talk about "keeping your eye on the ball!"
Niver Creek Middle School is located in a lower socio-economic neighborhood
and we have had many concerns over fighting and bullying at our school. The
students are wonderful, but some times education is the last thing on their mind
as they are dealing with many issues in their home and community. When asking
students what they would like to do with their lives, they respond by saying "I
want to be a pro-athlete" or "I don't know, but I want to make a lot of money."
Many of our students come from generational poverty and their parents went
through our school as well. They see fighting, drug and alcohol use daily in
their communities and think of it as a normal way to handle problems. Many of
our students don't have long-term goals or dreams, and many have never met
anybody from a different country.
This year we have really tried to focus on name calling and labeling as these
are some of the main causes of fights with our students. The WorldSmart crew
came in and touched on these issues in a real manner, and they were not afraid
to jump into the classrooms especially after only two weeks in the program. Each
day for three days the group spoke to a different grade level and did
interactive activities that really hit on personal and real issues that our
students deal with daily. Not only did they go into the classes but they also
ate lunch with them and followed them around to their elective classes.
There were many issues brought up by our students including homosexuality,
fighting, drugs and alcohol. The WorldSmart group was real in how they talked
about these issues; they spoke to our kids like they were people and didn't make
the mistake of talking down to them. Our students responded better than I've
ever seen them respond and allowed themselves to break down some of their own
barriers. After talking to many students, they were more excited about the
WorldSmart group than they have been about any other thing we have done this
year.
WorldSmart ended the week with a school wide assembly in which they
miraculously kept our students attention throughout the hour with music,
speaking, and stomp (which made the administrators a little nervous!). To their
credit we even had students show up to their Community Celebration. That was an
amazing and powerful event in itself. This new WorldSmart program has gone back
to the true meaning of Up with People-bringing together cultures and being
role-models for our youth. Up With People is still incorporating music as a
means to cross barriers and cultures but on a small and very beneficial level.
Most importantly, WorldSmart students are making a difference in communities
daily and changing lives across the world. I know that my students lives will be
different and that Up with People has opened their eyes to a world outside of
their community and has given them dreams that they never thought possible.
View the Starfish
Award given to WorldSmart participants from Niver Creek Middle
School.
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WorldSmart crew Members visit Peterson Air Force Base in
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
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Regional Learning Day
All for One and One For All--
WorldSmart Experiences
Military
Leadership
By Meghan Lazier, USA
After being
constantly reminded to bring passports and official IDs for security purposes, I
was surprised at how homey the Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs,
Colorado, U.S.A appeared. The base was like a small community, complete with
dorms, cafeterias, and a McDonalds. Arriving in a packed charter bus and a
cramped van, we were greeted by Lieutenant Tracy Giles who helped lead our tour
throughout the entire day. After a group picture with the beautiful Colorado
Rocky Mountains as our backdrop, we were whisked away to see the cargo planes.
The round, green planes looked so large that it was hard to imagine seeing them
take off.
Many students were confused at why we would spend our regional learning day
at an Air Force base, especially when our group is composed of varied world
views of the United States government's military actions. However, as we learned
that the core values of the Air Force are service above self, excellence in
everything, and integrity, our group came to the consensus that these values
were universal and integral to any type of teamwork.
As we boarded the planes and got inside, we were told about the missions that
the cargo planes are used for. Cargo planes are not allowed to fire or drop
bombs; instead, they are used to deliver food, troops, and much needed supplies.
One Air Force pilot recalled when a local community wanted to donate an old fire
truck to a town that was in dire need for the equipment. However the needy
community was located on the other side of the country. In order to transport
the truck, the Air Force stepped in to help out two caring communities on
opposite sides of the country. Learning about the humanitarian work of the Air
Force was a refreshing perspective in a time when the United States is involved
in a controversial war. We were also allowed to explore the cockpit which was
filled with what seemed like hundreds of dials, levers, and tiny windows.
Unsure where we were headed next, we quickly discovered that all the barking
dogs in the background were a good clue. Our group gathered in a fenced-in area
and we were given a demonstration of how dogs are used by the Air Force. Man's
best friend is more than just a companion; dogs can also be utilized as a tool
to find criminals and sniff out drugs.
Finally, we were given a video and power point presentation about how
important outer space is to our society. Besides serving the military in
destruction and exploration, space technology is a part of a civilian's everyday
life. Cellular phones and GPS are a few ways citizens worldwide benefit from
space technology.
While some were skeptical about the experience at the beginning of the day,
by the end, everyone agreed that the experience was beneficial in broadening
perspectives and viewing leadership first hand. After a long day, we were happy
to travel back to Denver for another enjoyable evening with our host families.
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WorldSmart Celebration
Spring 2005 WorldSmart Crew
Conducts First Celebration!
By Adriana Mesquita, Brazil
More than
100 people were present at the first WorldSmart Celebration of the Spring 2005
crew. The event took place Feb. 18 at Niver Creek Middle School, in NorthGlenn,
Colorado, U.S.A. with 47 participants from 21 countries managing and
participating in the event.
Participants at the Celebration explained to host families, alumni and the
general audience the main goals of the WorldSmart? Leadership Program. The crew
also shared their opinions with the audience on how to address some of the
world's major problems.
Mehmet Baha, from Cyprus, spoke about the reasons that made him join
WorldSmart and how he believes this experience will contribute to make him a
better citizen of the world. Also, there were some great musical performances.
The entire crew sang Rhythm of the World, one of Up with People's
original songs.
All in all, the WorldSmart Celebration accomplished its goal of making the
audience feel the good vibrations and, much like the crew, be inspired by our
vision for a better world.
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This publication written and produced by the 2005 WorldSmart
Crew
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